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One key stylistic distinction for proofreading is between informal and formal writing. But what is formal writing? What makes it formal? And when should a document use a formal style? In this post, we look at what you need to know to work on formal documents. What Are the Key Stylistic Features of Formal Writing? […]

Some freelance proofreaders offer new clients a free sample edit. This means checking part of a document for free so a client can see your work before committing to paying. But is this a good idea? And if so, how should you approach offering a free sample edit? Why Do Some Proofreaders Offer a Free […]

In our time training proofreaders, we’ve noticed that the subtleties of capitalisation can sometimes confuse even the best students. So, today, we’re going to look at two tricky capitalisation issues that might trip you up: compass points and titles. Compass Points and Directions It is a common misconception that the four compass directions should always […]

Among other things, a good proofreader will check documents for proper use of quotes and quotation marks. However, there are many easy-to-miss quotation mark errors, including 4. Smart Quotes vs. Straight Quotes In typography, quotation marks come in two styles: Smart (or curly) quote marks – These are standard in most writing now, and most […]

AP style is commonly used by journalists, marketers, and PR specialists, whose writing often includes abbreviations. So, if you’re proofreading a document that uses AP style, you’ll need to know how abbreviations, acronyms, and initialisms should be presented. With that in mind, then, this guide covers how abbreviations should be used in AP style. Becoming […]

Here at Knowadays we have a poster on the wall (next to the signed pictures of our favourite pedants of stage and screen) that says, ‘You don’t have to know the etymology of “proofreading” to work here, but it helps!’ Our questionable taste in wall décor aside, the term ‘proofreading’ does make more sense when […]

If you’re a freelance writer looking to get published, you’ll be excited to know that there are many magazines that accept submissions from freelancers. Whether you’re interested in writing fiction, lifestyle pieces, travel essays, or investigative journalism, there’s likely a magazine out there eager for your expertise. In this blog post, we’ll cover a broad […]

Rhetorical devices are everywhere, so as an editor, you’ll need to know what to do when you encounter them. But do you know your alliteration from your anaphora? How about the difference between epanalepsis and epistrophe? If it’s all Greek to you, don’t panic – just read our guide to 12 rhetorical devices and how […]

The Associated Press Stylebook is the go-to style guide for many writers, news outlets, and businesses. And if your clients use AP style, you’ll need to know how it works. With that in mind, here we’ll look at what proofreaders should know about dates in AP style, including: The basic date format (and when you […]